MUHLENBERG COUNTY, Ky. (7/8/13) – The Tuesday, July 2nd, meeting of the Muhlenberg Rotary Club at the Central City Country Club was to be highlighted by a ceremony honoring outgoing President Sean Mooningham, and a speech by incoming President Lisa Poole.

However, a surprise visit from Congressman Ed Whitfield took the place of the regular planned agenda, although members were more than happy to hear from the congressman. Whitfield discussed America's energy needs, and especially his continuing support of Western Kentucky coal.

SurfKY Reporters did however, have a chance to speak with outgoing President Sean Mooningham after the meeting about the many accomplishments of the Muhlenberg Rotary Club over the past year.

"I think we had a great year," Mooningham said. "I think everything we tried to do was accomplished. We would still like to increase the membership, but our events went over well. They were some of the best we've had. We were able to partner with the Lions Clubs a few times and get some speakers in here that were a credit to the county. We took part in the Backpack Program through the 4H Penguin Plunge."

Mooningham also noted that the Rotary Club is excited to see so much use of the Spray Park that they contributed so much to last year. "The Taste of Muhlenberg was the best we've had, and the pancake breakfast we had allowed us to make the largest donation ever we've been able to make to the Family Resource Center,” said Mooningham. “All in all, it was a great year, and I'm looking forward to Lisa making it an even better next year."

"Anyone interested in becoming a part of the Rotary Club can stop by to find out more during their summer meetings, held at the Central City Country Club each Tuesday," Mooningham explained. "During the school year we meet the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Muhlenberg West Campus. We have a student of the month, and we really try to get involved in the school system during the school year. The rest of the time we meet here at the country club. We try to be out and active in the community. We'd love for anyone to come join us and see what we do not just locally but internationally."

"Polio Plus is probably the biggest initiative the Rotary Club has undertaken over the past 20 years. Partnering with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we have managed to get polio to where it's now in only two countries in the world. We can see total eradication on the horizon, and that's been a major undertaking. It has taken billions and billions of dollars. My grandmother suffered from polio so I may have a little more view of it than many in my generation do," Mooningham noted. “And now we are so close to seeing polio eradicated from every nation around the world, every Rotarian should be proud of that.

New Rotary Club president Lisa Poole will speak on plans for future projects and goals of the club at the next meeting on Tuesday, July 9th.

Contact the Muhlenberg Rotary Club on their Facebook site to join, or to find out more about its activities locally and around the world.